Holder for cords of electrical connectors



" 08! 1946. A. J. SCHUENEMA N 5,

"HOLDER FOR combs 6F ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS Filed March 10, 1945 2. Shet-Sheet 1 9 v l l| v 1 h II I Inventor J1 0Y$m JS HUENEMA/V,

Patented Aug. 27, 1946 T *orrlcr:

' HOLDER FOR corms OF ELECTRICAL" CONNECTORS Aloysius J. S chueneman, Waukegan, Ill. Application March 10, 1945, Serial No. 582,072

, 1 My invention relates to improvements in holders for the cords of electrical connectors of the socket-and-plug type particularly.

The invention is designed with the principal object in view of providing means of simple form and inexpensive construction adapted for easy;-

quick application to the cords at opposite ends of the usual pull-apart socket-anci -plug connector, of commerce, togrip the cords and prevent the same from being pulledloose from the socket and plug, and also prevent the socket and plug from being pulled apart, and which is designed for use with cords of such connectorsof different sizes, and will not injure the cords, as by chafing the same.

Other and subordinate objects are also comprehended by my invention, all of which, together with the precise nature of my improve ments, and advantages thereof, will be readily understood when the succeeding description and claims are read with reference to the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation'illustrating my improved holder applied, in a preferred embodiment thereof, and viewed from one side thereof,

Figure 2 is a similar view looking at the opposite side of the holder,

Figure 3 is a view in rear elevation showing the bars adjusted endwise to contract the overall length of the holder,

Figure 4 is a view in side elevation, partly in section, illustrating the toothed bar swung to disengage the teeth thereof from the detent dog.

Figure 5 is a view in end elevation, partly in section,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view in rear elevation.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, my

improved holder, as illustrated, comprises a pair of bars I, 2 adapted to extend alongside a connector 3 of the usual socket-and-plug type, in side-by-side aligned relation, said bars having relatively opposite, laterally extending end portions 4, 5 adapted to embrace the ends of the connector 3, and which terminate in forked, resilient grips 6, I adaptedto straddle and frictionally grip the cords 9 at opposite ends of the connector 3. Preferably, the portions 4, 5 are split longitudinally and shaped to form the grips 6, 1, it being understood that the bars I, 2 are formed of resilient metal, or the, like, for imparting resiliency to the grips 6, I.

2 Claims. (Cl. 173-328) I An felongated, channeled keeper fiange lfl is provided on one side of the bar I, intermediate.

the ends of the same, providing for relative slid- 1 ing ofithe bars I, 2 'endwise to extend or contract the overall length thereof, and which mainftains saidj'bars side by side when aligned. "The bar 2' is provided with ratchet teeth II on its outer facegand facing the channel in sadi flange Ill. A detent dog I2 is formed on one end of the flange II! for interlocking with said teeth II' when the bars I, 2 are aligned, to thereby prevent the same from moving endwise relatively. A guide loop I3 is formed on the other end of the flange I0 to extend diagonally across the bars I, 2 and through which the toothed bar 2 is slidable and swingably extended. The loop I3 bears against the face of the toothed bar 2 opposite the teeth II, which is to say, opposite the point of engagement of the detent dog I2 with a tooth II. Thus, the bars I, 2 are prevented from buckling by movement of thegrips 6, I in a separate direction, while, at the same time, by moving said grips 6, I toward each other, said bars I, 2 may be swung relatively, with the toothed, bar 2 fulcruming in the loop I3 and so as to disengage the detent dog I2 from'a tooth II and unlock the bars I, 2 for relative endwise sliding, as occasion may require.

The manner in which the described holder is applied and functions will be readily understood.

With the bars I, 2 swung relatively as previously described, and as shown in Figure 4, to disengage the detent dog I2 from the teeth II, said bars I, 2 are slid endwise alongside each other until the grips 6, I are spaced apart sufficiently to embrace the ends of the connector 3'with a slight clearance. The grips 6, I are then snapped'over the cords '9 and said bars I, 2 swung into side-byside alignment to engage the detent tooth I2 with the appropriate tooth I I and the bar 2. With the detent dog I2 engaged with the selected tooth II, the grips 6, I are locked against separative movement and thereby oppose pull on the cords 9 such as would tend to loosen the cords in the connector. The frictional engagement of the ,grips 6, I with the cords 9 prevents said grips from working toward each other. Preferably, the grips B, I should be applied close to the ends of the connector 3 so that movement of the grips. toward each other is blocked by said connector.

This may be accomplished by adjusting the bars I, 2 so as to space the grips 6 and I apart to fit over the ends of the connector and applying the holder with the bars I, 2 aligned and the detent dog I2 interlocked with the appropraite tooth ll of the toothed bar 2.

As best shown in Figures 3 and 5, the end portions 4, 5 of the bars I, 2 may be bent laterally and oppositely, relativley, to align the grips 6, 1.

As will be apparent, when the grips 6, I are applied as described, the holder also functions to prevent the connector 3 from pulling apart.

The foregoing will; it'is believed, suflice to'ima part a clear understanding of my invention with out further explanation.

Manifestly, the invention, as described, is suscepti ble of Vmodification without departing fromthe inventiveconcept, and right is herein reserved to such modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims. I

WhatIclaim is: v r V 1. A cord holder for attachment to the electric cords at opposite ends of an electrical connector comprising a pair of bars adapted to extend alongside said connector in side-by-side aligned relation, said bars having relatively oppositefllat erally extending end portions adapted to embrace opposite ends of the connector, said'portions' tern-- minating in resilient {forked grips adapted to straddle and frictionallyvgrip the cords atopposite ends of the connector, and coactinginterlocking devices onsaid bars, respectively, for pre-.

venting relative endwise movement of'the same in a direction to separate said grips, said devices 4 providing for swinging of said bars relatively to break the interlock between the devices, said devices comprising a channeled flange on one bar receiving the other bar therein, ratchet teeth on said other bar, and a detent dog on said flange for engagement with said teeth.

2. A cord holder for attachment to the electric cords at opposite ends of an electrical connector comprising a pair of bars adapted to extend alongside. said connector in side-by'eside aligned relation, said bars having relatively opposite laterally extending end portions adapted to embrace opposite ends of the connector, said portions terminating in resilient forked grips adapted to straddle and frictionally grip the cords at opposite ends of the connector, and coacting interlocking devices on said bars, respectively, for preventing relative endwise movement of the same in a direction to separate said grips, said devices providing for swinging of said bars relatively to break the interlock between the devices,

said devices comprising a channeled flange on one bar receiving the otherbar therein, ratchet teeth onsaid other'bar, a detent dog on one end of said flange for engagement with said teeth, and a loop on the other end of saidfiange throughwhich the other bar extends and in which said other bar is fulcrumed. Y 

